Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Turkey Arrests 47 Istanbul Officials in Expanding Crackdown on Opposition

The latest detentions bring the total to at least 150 since Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's March imprisonment, deepening political tensions and sparking allegations of judicial bias.

People gather to protest outside Caglayan courthouse, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, April 18, 2025, during the hearing of dozens of people accused of attending banned demonstrations after the arrest of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
A woman shouts slogans during a protest outside Caglayan courthouse, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, April 18, 2025, during the hearing of dozens of people accused of attending banned demonstrations after the arrest of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Turkish gendarmerie block the way as supporters gather outside Silivri prison, where a hearing is taking place for Istanbul jailed Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in one of multiple cases against him, west of Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
From his prison cell, jailed opposition mayor Imamoglu has denounced the latest arrests

Overview

  • Turkish authorities conducted dawn raids on April 26, detaining 47 senior municipal officials, including key figures in Istanbul's administration.
  • The arrests are part of a widening corruption and terror investigation targeting Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and his associates, which began with his March 19 detention.
  • Imamoglu, a prominent opposition leader and potential 2028 presidential contender, has dismissed the charges as politically motivated efforts to neutralize electoral competition.
  • The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) accuses President Erdogan’s government of using the judiciary to undermine opposition leadership, a claim the government denies, asserting judicial independence.
  • Protests over Imamoglu's detention, which initially drew hundreds of thousands, continue on a smaller scale, reflecting ongoing public discontent with the crackdown.